From One Generation to the Next: Childhood Experiences of Antisocial Behavior and Parental Incarceration Among Adult Inmates

Abstract

The recent climb in U.S. incarceration rates is paralleled by a growing number of children experiencing parental incarceration, including some who follow their parents to prison as second-generation offenders. This study examines the historical experiences of 470 first- and second-generation incarcerated adults. Second-generation offenders reported more conduct disorder behaviors occurring prior to age 15, proportionately more juvenile criminal offending, and more childhood adversity than first-generation offenders. Childhood adversity partially mediated the relation between generation status and conduct disorder, but second-generation status maintained a unique direct effect. Similar analyses regarding juvenile offending among males did not support an adversity mediation model.

KEYWORDS:

• children of incarcerated parents
• delinquency
• federal prison
• mental health
• risk factors

Notes

Note. Offense is most serious offense per institutional records.

Note. Conduct disorder = Frequency of DSM-IV conduct disorder markers (max. = 15); juvenile criminal activity = self-report of at least one incidence prior to age 18. Variable sample sizes for juvenile criminal activity reflect incomplete information from some respondents.

Note. Conduct disorder = frequency of DSM-IV conduct disorder markers (max. = 15); child adversity = number of markers of childhood adversity (max. = 5).

^a Mean and standard deviation for conduct disorder and childhood adversity with entire sample.

^b Subsample size and percentage for men only who completed criminal history measure.